Swing driveway gates
Single or double swing gates for driveways. Double gates split a wide opening into two lighter leaves, which puts less strain on each hinge post. They need a clear, reasonably level arc to open into.
Driveway · Walk-through · Pool · Farm
Gate Installation in Covington, LA
Northbound Fences installs driveway, walk-through, garden, pool and farm gates across Covington and the Northshore, in wood, aluminum, vinyl and chain link. Each gate is hung on posts and hardware sized for its weight, so it swings true and latches every time.
Last updated: September 2026
Northbound Fences is a licensed and insured Louisiana fence and gate contractor based in Covington. Eric Bankston founded the company in 2005, and it serves St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes.
What goes into a gate installation from Northbound Fences?
Short answer
A Northbound gate installation covers sizing the opening, choosing the gate style and material, setting dedicated gate posts, hanging the gate on hardware rated for its weight, and adjusting it until it opens smoothly and latches on its own. The work is done by Northbound’s own crew, never a subcontractor.
A gate is the only part of a fence that moves, and it moves every day. That is why a gate that looks fine on day one can be dragging across the driveway by the end of its first wet season. Northbound Fences treats the gate as its own piece of engineering rather than a panel with hinges on it.
The crew hangs everything from a single garden gate beside the house to double swing driveway gates, sliding and cantilever gates, self-closing pool gates and wide pipe gates for pastures in Folsom and Bush. Every gate is matched to the fence it sits in, whether that fence is pressure-treated wood, vinyl, aluminum or chain link.
Building a new fence at the same time? Gates are planned into every fence installation from the start, which is the easiest way to get gate posts in exactly the right place. For acreage, see farm and ranch fencing.
Gate types
Which kinds of gates does Northbound Fences build and hang?
Northbound Fences installs residential and farm gates in four families. The right one depends on what passes through it and how much room you have.
Sliding & cantilever gates
When a driveway slopes up toward the house or parking leaves no swing room, a gate that slides along the fence line solves it. Cantilever gates hang from their posts with no ground track, so gravel and leaves do not jam them.
Entry, garden & side-yard gates
Walk-through gates for front walks, garden beds and the narrow side yard where the trash cans and mower go in and out. Width is set for the equipment you actually roll through, not just for people.
Pool enclosure gates
Pool gates have one job above all: close and latch every time. Northbound builds them to swing freely, shut on their own and latch securely, in aluminum, vinyl or the material of your pool fence.
Farm, pasture & livestock gates
Pipe, wire and wood gates wide enough for trucks, trailers and tractors, strong enough to hold horses, cattle and goats. They tie into board, rail or wire pasture fencing on rural lots.
Materials to match your fence
Pressure-treated wood, aluminum, vinyl and galvanized or vinyl-coated chain link. A gate that matches the fence looks built-in, and hardware is chosen for the material and the weight of the leaf.
What should you know about pool gates and permits before you build?
Northbound Fences builds pool enclosure gates to swing freely, close on their own and latch securely, because pool barrier rules around the country focus on keeping young children out. The exact requirements depend on where you live, so check with your parish or city before you settle on a design.
Homes inside Covington, Mandeville or Slidell city limits follow city rules, homes in unincorporated St. Tammany follow the parish, and many subdivisions add HOA covenants on height and style. Northbound Fences pulls permits when required. The St. Tammany fence permit guide covers where to start.
- Self-closing hinges pull the gate shut from any open position.
- A self-latching latch catches without anyone pushing it.
- Gate posts are set so the latch stays aligned as the seasons change.
Why installation matters
Why do some gates sag and drag within a year?
Northbound Fences sees the same four installation mistakes behind most failing gates. Louisiana’s wet clay, sandy soil and humid summers expose every one of them quickly.
- Poorly set gate posts
A gate hangs its full weight off one post. If that post is undersized or shallow in soft, saturated ground, it leans a little each rain until the latch no longer lines up.
- Wrong hinge placement
Hinges set too close together or too far from the top and bottom rails let the leaf rack. The far corner drops, and the gate starts scraping the ground.
- Hardware that is too light
Hardware sized for a garden gate will not carry a wide wood driveway leaf. Heavy gates get heavy-duty, outdoor-rated hinges and latches built to handle humidity.
- No plan for wind and swelling
Solid gates catch storm wind like a sail, and wood swells in wet months. Clearances and bracing are set so the gate still closes after a humid week or a Gulf storm.
Step by step
How does Northbound Fences install a new gate?
Northbound Fences installs a gate in four steps, starting with a free on-site look and ending with you testing the latch yourself.
Walk the opening
The crew measures the opening, checks the slope and drainage, and asks what has to pass through: people, mowers, vehicles, trailers or livestock.
Pick style and hardware
You choose swing, sliding or cantilever and the material. Hinges, latches and gate posts are sized to the finished weight of the gate.
Set the gate posts
Gate posts carry far more load than line posts, so they are set first and set solidly, with bracing where the gate is long or heavy.
Hang, adjust and test
The gate is hung, leveled and adjusted until it swings or rolls freely and latches on its own. You test it before the crew leaves.
Recent work
What do Northbound fence and gate projects look like?
Northbound Fences builds gates into residential yards and working pastures alike. A few recent projects from the crew:
FAQ
What do Northshore homeowners ask about new gates?
Not sure which gate fits your opening? Call (985) 630-4452 and describe it to the crew.
What type of driveway gate is best for my property?
It depends on the space you have. A swing gate needs clear, fairly level ground for the leaves to open into. A sliding gate needs room along the fence line to roll back. A cantilever gate also slides, but it hangs off its posts instead of riding a track, so it works on uneven or gravel drives. Northbound Fences looks at your driveway during the free estimate and recommends the style that fits.
Can you add a gate to my existing fence?
Usually, yes. The crew cuts the opening, sets new gate posts sized for the gate’s weight and builds the gate to match your existing wood, vinyl, aluminum or chain link fence. If the fence itself is failing, fence repair can be handled on the same visit.
Do pool gates have to meet special rules?
Yes. Pool enclosure gates generally have to swing freely, close on their own and latch securely so small children cannot get through. Requirements vary, so check with your parish or city. Northbound Fences builds pool gates with self-closing, self-latching hardware and pulls permits when required.
How wide should a farm or pasture gate be?
Wide enough for the biggest machine that has to pass through it, with room to spare. Think about your truck and trailer, your tractor with its implements, and hay deliveries. The crew walks the opening with you and sizes pipe, wire or wood farm gates to how you actually use the property.
Why do so many gates sag?
Most sagging comes from the installation, not the gate itself: gate posts that are too small or poorly set, hinges placed in the wrong spot, and hardware that is too light for the gate. Wet Louisiana soil makes a weak post worse. If your current gate already drags, see gate repair.
How much does a new gate cost?
The price depends on the gate type, width, material, hardware and whether new posts are needed. Northbound Fences gives you a free written estimate after measuring on site, and the price quoted is the price you pay. The Covington fence cost guide explains the main cost factors.
More from Northbound
Other Services You May Need
Fence Installation
New wood, vinyl, chain link, aluminum and picket fences built to your lot.
- Privacy, picket and shadow box
- Most homes finished in 1–3 days
- Permits pulled when required
Gate Repair
Sagging gates, broken hinges, failed latches and leaning posts.
- Re-hung so it latches again
- Anti-sag kits and new posts
- Wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain link
Farm & Ranch Fencing
Board, ranch rail, pasture, barb-wire and deer fencing for acreage.
- 3-board rail with wire backing
- Horse, cattle and goat pastures
- Deer fencing for gardens
Free estimates
Need a gate that closes right every time?
Tell Northbound Fences where the fence or gate goes and what it needs to hold in. The crew measures on site and gives you a written quote with no pressure and no obligation.
or call (985) 630-4452